A groundbreaking study has revealed the Zanclean Megaflood, a colossal event that refilled the Mediterranean Sea around 5.3 million years ago, challenging previous geological theories.
Conducted by a multinational team of geoscientists, including researchers from the University of Southampton, the study emphasizes the flood's unprecedented scale and its role in reshaping the region's landscape during the Messinian Salinity Crisis.
Dr. Aaron Micallef, the principal investigator, highlighted the immense flow rates of the megaflood, which dwarfed those of any recorded floods, fundamentally altering the geological features of Southeast Sicily.
The findings, supported by advanced geophysical data and numerical modeling, indicate that the flood's powerful currents eroded existing landforms and transported vast amounts of material, leaving a lasting impact on the Mediterranean's geological history.
This research not only sheds light on a pivotal moment in Earth's history but also underscores the importance of studying ancient cataclysmic events to understand future geological changes.